Archives by Tag 'Defense'

Jordan Leen, University of Virginia assistant coach, walks you through how to counter an opponent that hooks your armpit with their leg when you’re looking for a “swing it and step on it” situation. Coach Leen shows you what he does to force opponents onto their belly, or even into a cradle.

Leg Hook Under the Armpit

Drill Summary: When you’re trying to go for a “swing it and step on it” move, but your opponent hooks your arm pit with their feet, this is the move that Coach Leen recommends. First, focus on keeping heavy hips and a high head/chest. Quickly shift your hips and crowd toward the opponent’s head, then work on catching a cradle. If your opponent starts to suspect this move, they might panic and flip over, allowing you to get on top of them.

Roy Williams, head coach at the University of North Carolina, takes you through a transition defense drill that teaches players the fundamentals of defending when the opponent gets out in a fast break. The skills and concepts presented will help athletes know where to go and what to do when defending a breakout.

3-on-2 Transition Defense Drill

Drill Summary: Three offensive players line up across the baseline and three defensive players line up across from them on the free throw line extended. The coach begins the drill by throwing the ball to an offensive player and calling out the name of a defensive player. The player that the coach yells out much sprint and touch the baseline as the other players head the other direction in a 3-on-2 fast break. The defense works on stopping the offense until the trailing player can recover, then play is live.

Keys to the Drill:

1) Cover the goal/basket.
2) Cover the ball.
3) Once in the half court, provide help if the ball gets near the rim.
4) Communicate.

With over 500 wins in his coaching career, Brian Beaury has seen his fair share of talented athletes, but few as dominant on the defensive end of the floor as Matt Fryer. In this clip, you’ll learn the drill named after Fryer, designed to work on two skills he had mastered: defensive slides and sprinting to a spot on the floor.

Matt Fryer Drill

Drill Summary: Players line up in a single file line in one of the corners of the basketball court. One at a time, they take off diagonally toward where the other sideline and the half court line meet. On the way, they sprint until they get to the lane line, then defensive slide through the lane, then sprint to the corner. Immediately after, they continue on to where the other baseline and sideline meet. This time, players defensive slide until the lane line, sprint through the lane, then defensive slide to the corner. Do this going both ways on the court.

New Iowa State University head coach, Steve Prohm, sometimes begins practice by taking players through the “Rebel Drills.” The series of closeout and individual defensive moves will get players used to guarding the ball, help them be quicker on their feet and make them better half-court defenders.

Rebel Drills

Drill Summary: Two or three coaches line up evenly spaced on the top of the key extended. The rest of the players split into even lines on the baseline. The first player in each line steps up under the hoop extended and gets in a good defensive stance facing the sideline. On the coach’s whistle, the player closes out on their corresponding coach and works on their on-ball defense actions. Situations to run players through include: closing out short, contesting a shot and “dead-call” either direction.

Keys to the Drill:

1) Talk!
2) Defensive shuffle back to the baseline when closing out short.
3) Get a rim touch after contesting a shot and boxing out.
4) Make the ball handler uncomfortable on a “dead-call.”

University of Virginia head coach, Steve Garland, says his favorite drill of all-time is the “Foot Fighting Drill”. In this clip, coach Garland shows you the drill and how to move your feet to keep opposing wrestlers from riding your legs.

Foot Fighting Drill

Drill Summary: This drill is to be used to prevent leg riders from ever getting a lock on your legs. Without an opponent on you, work on a “windshield wiper” movement with both of your legs, moving them back and forth with your hands and knees on the ground. Add an opponent and have them try to lock either of your legs, then work on sliding your feet under theirs and avoiding the lock.